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Ian Rush## Liverpool legend Ian Rush has named the Reds player who will be "a new player" for Andoni Iraola this coming season, with his injury problems hopefully now behind him
06:00, 25 Jul 2026
Liverpool legends Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish.
Liverpool legends Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)
Liverpool legend Ian Rush is backing Alexander Isak to be like a new signing for the Reds in the coming season, with the Swede set to link up with his teammates again in the next few days.
Isak missed most of his debut campaign at Anfield because of injury problems, but he is now fully fit and firing again. Alongside Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch, he will travel to the US to join his Liverpool teammates on tour this weekend.
One of Andoni Iraola's key tasks will be ensuring that the team is funneling the ball to dangerous positions for Isak to shoot from as often as possible, with pre-season a key period in which to implement those ideas.
"I'm hoping (Isak) comes back a new player," Rush told the BBC.
"He'll be ready. He doesn't need a pre-season. He's got over his injuries and he's played for Sweden at the World Cup.
"I think he'll be coming back looking to prove a thing or two to other people."
Liverpool signed Isak for a fee of around $169 million (£125 million) last summer after a protracted saga. As a result of him essentially going on strike to force the move through, the player arrived lacking match sharpness.
Alexander Isak of Sweden and Liverpool
Alexander Isak of Sweden and Liverpool(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Isak then broke his leg in December, meaning that he was sidelined for months. Only at the World Cup did he look back at full tilt again.
"It's a fresh start for Isak and an opportunity to kick on," Danny Mills told Snabbare recently.
"It didn't start well at Liverpool last year with the debacle around the transfer, not turning up for training, not being fit, and then picking up an injury.
"That snowballed throughout the season. It almost wrote the season off for him, and it goes back to not having a pre-season.
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"When you aren't fit and go into high-intensity games, you pick up injuries. With a new start and a new manager, the manager will be looking at how to get the best out of him.
"The way Andoni Iraola played at Bournemouth probably suits him a little bit more. He looks to play with fast attacking pace in wide areas and down the middle, playing balls in behind."
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Liverpool.com says: Isak is likely to be the biggest determinant in the Reds' success this season. If he fulfills his potential, the Swede will score loads of goals, bringing the best out of those around him too.
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Ian Rush
Alexander Isak